Porsche Ups Its Green Cred With Panamera S Hybrid and Boxster E

We know that Porsche plans to make a hybrid version of every one of its cars. This week, the company took the next official step, introducing the Panamera S Hybrid ahead of its Geneva debut. And if that wasn't enough to make environmentalists all warm and tingly, Porsche also introduced the all-electric Boxster E prototype.

The Panamera S Hybrid uses the same combination featured in the Cayenne S Hybrid, which Porsche debuted at last year's New York Auto Show. A 47-hp electric motor assists Porsche's 333-hp 3.0-liter V6 engine, enabling the car to drive under all-electric motivation (up to 1 mile), gas power or a combination of both. The car has an eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission and nickel metal hydride battery pack.

The hybrid powertrain delivers up to around 34 mpg, according to Porsche's numbers, earning it the designation of "most fuel efficient Porsche of all time". Meanwhile, it's still a Porsche; it hits 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and tops out at 167 mph.

Porsche has already confirmed the Panamera S Hybrid for the U.S. and has even provided a price: $95,000 (without destination). That's a premium of $5,200 over the gas-powered Panamera S. The car will be available later this year.

While the Panamera S Hybrid is all but ready for market, Porsche's first all-electric is merely a prototype. Before introducing the Panamera S Hybrid, Porsche announced that it is testing three prototype versions of the Boxster E. Each model features two electric motors. Output is 240-hp and electricity comes from a 29 kWh battery pack. While it's not clear if the Boxster E has a production future, Porsche is using the prototypes to test technologies that will likely be incorporated into its line.

CEO Matthias Müller explains: "The electrical mobility is a central challenge of the coming years and the engineers at Porsche would like to contribute with the usual excellence of them to be resolved. The Boxster E will help us as mobile laboratories in solving the practical problems of electric vehicles the way that our customers expect."

Porsche didn't get into much detail about the prototypes, but did say they'd offer performance similar to that of the Boxster S.